Northern Lights visible over Bradford in spectacular show

Photos of the dazzling natural phenomenon, also known as aurora borealis, were captured across the Bradford district.

The Met Office said relatively clear skies were forecast for much of the UK last night, creating a "decent chance of visibility".

Submitted by Chris Lea, Bradford (Image: T&A Camera Club) According to the forecaster, there had been "more space weather events in recent months", including the Northern Lights, because the sun was nearing the peak of its solar cycle.

The Northern Lights last put on a spectacular show in May.

Submitted by Julie Wilkinson, Baildon Moor (Image: T&A Camera Club) The auroras on earth, which are most commonly seen over high polar latitudes but can spread south, are chiefly influenced by geomagnetic storms which originate from activity on the sun.

The sun works on a cycle of around 11 years called the solar cycle - with peak sunspot activity on the surface of the sun referred to as solar maximum.

Submitted by Helen Hopkins, looking towards Skipton (Image: T&A Camera Club) Helen Hopkins, who submitted the above picture, said: "I don't think I've ever seen a sky as beautiful as this."

Martin Berry, of Keighley, who took the below photo, said: "It was particularly strong at 1am."

Submitted by Martin Berry, Keighley (Image: T&A Camera Club)

Sunspots give the potential for earth-directed releases of large bursts of energy, called coronal mass ejections, which can lead to aurora visibility.

Aurora displays occur when charged particles collide with gases in the earth's atmosphere around the magnetic poles.

As they collide, light is emitted at various wavelengths, creating colourful displays in the sky.